The League Managers Association five-man Performance of the Week panel, comprising LMA Chairman Howard Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Joe Royle, Dave Bassett and Barry Fry, were in agreement that this week, the F&C Investments Performance of the Week Award should go to Stoke City following their excellent 1-0 away win against West Bromwich Albion in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday 1st December 2012.

Manager Tony Pulis will receive a specially engraved crystal football in a presentation to commemorate the award.

On 75 minutes Dean Whitehead steered the winner in from fellow substitute Michael Kightly’s cross after great perseverance by Kenwyne Jones. Jones did brilliantly to pressurise Jonas Olsson on the right flank and Whitehead was able to profit to give Stoke a first win on the road in the top flight since they beat Blackburn Rovers last January. Their fourth victory from five games sees them move up to ninth in the Premier League table.

Manager Tony Pulis was naturally delighted;

“It was a great result because we haven’t won away from home this season. We have drawn four away but could easily have won a couple of those. Every one of the players who played gave it everything.

“We were quite happy to let them have the ball and try to counter-attack. We wanted to make sure they didn’t get behind us.

“We didn’t want to lose the ball in bad areas. They play between the lines very well. We are delighted to get a clean sheet and win the game.

“We have done well defensively, but we have done well all season. It has been a very good week but we don’t get too carried away when we are winning or too despondent when we are losing.”